# US 2016/0354984 A1 · Improvements relating to the manufacture of wind turbines

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- Number: US 2016/0354984 A1
- Document ID: US20160354984A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/678,033
- Filed: 2013-09-30
- Published: 2016-12-08
- Earliest claimed: 2012-10-05
- Assignees: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
- Applicants: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
- Inventors: Andrew Hedges; Damien Rajasingam
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160354984A1

## CPC

- B29C 70/382: {Automated fiber placement [AFP]}
- B29C 70/38: Automated lay-up, e.g. using robots, laying filaments according to predetermined patterns {(application heads for tyres B29D30/28)}
- B29D 99/0025: {Producing blades or the like, e.g. blades for turbines, propellers, or wings}
- F03D 1/0675: {of the blades}
- B29L 2031/085: {Wind turbine blades}
- F05B 2230/00: Manufacture
- F05B 2230/31: Layer deposition
- Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- F03D: WIND MOTORS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A production system for a wind turbine component is described. The system includes an elongate mould assembly extending in a longitudinal direction, the mould assembly comprising a mould surface and having a width that varies in the longitudinal direction. First and second tracks are defined respectively on opposite longitudinal sides of the mould surface. The perpendicular distance between the respective tracks varies along the length of the track. A transport assembly is moveable relative the mould assembly in the longitudinal direction. The transport assembly includes a pair of side supports arranged to move along the respective tracks, and a gantry supported above the mould assembly by the side supports. The gantry extends transverse to the longitudinal direction. The transport assembly is configured such that the side supports move relative to one another in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction in accordance with the varying distance between the tracks as the transport assembly moves in the longitudinal direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A production system for a wind turbine component, the system comprising:
an elongate mould assembly extending in a longitudinal direction, the mould assembly comprising a mould surface and having a width that varies in the longitudinal direction;
first and second tracks defined respectively on opposite longitudinal sides of the mould surface, the tracks extending longitudinally; and
a transport assembly moveable relative to the mould assembly in the longitudinal direction, the transport assembly comprising a pair of side supports arranged respectively to move along the first and second tracks, and a gantry supported above the mould assembly by the pair of side supports, the gantry extending transverse to the longitudinal direction, characterised in that the perpendicular distance between the respective tracks varies along the length of the tracks; and
the transport assembly is configured such that the side supports move relative to one another in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction in accordance with the varying distance between the tracks as the transport assembly moves in the longitudinal direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The production system of claim 1, further comprising a walkway provided alongside the mould assembly, wherein one of the tracks is provided on the walkway.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The production system of claim 2, comprising first and second walkways provided respectively alongside first and second longitudinal sides of the mould assembly, wherein the first and second tracks are provided respectively on the first and second walkways.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The production system of claim 1, wherein the mould surface is at least partially surrounded by a mould flange, and wherein at least one of the tracks is provided on the mould flange.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The production system of claim 4, wherein both of the tracks are provided on the mould flange.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The production system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the tracks follows a contour of the mould assembly.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The production system of claim 6, wherein the distance between the tracks decreases in a direction in which the mould assembly becomes narrower.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The production system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the tracks defines a curved path.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The production system of claim 1, wherein the gantry is slidably mounted with respect to one or both side supports.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The production system of claim 9, wherein the gantry is telescopically arranged with respect to at least one of the side supports to effect relative movement of the side supports transverse to the longitudinal direction.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The production system of claim 1, further comprising an articulated joint between the gantry and at least one of the side supports.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The production system of claim 1, wherein a base portion of at least one of the side supports is provided with wheels that are able to turn relative to the side support.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The production system of claim 1, wherein the transport assembly comprises means for dynamically varying the height of at least one of the side supports as the transport assembly moves in the longitudinal direction.

### Claim 14

A method of making an elongate wind turbine component, the method comprising:
providing an elongate mould assembly extending in a longitudinal direction, the mould assembly comprising a mould surface and having a width that varies in the longitudinal direction;
defining first and second tracks respectively on opposite longitudinal sides of the mould surface, the tracks extending longitudinally and the perpendicular distance between the tracks varying along the length of the tracks;
providing a transport assembly comprising a pair of side supports arranged respectively to move along the first and second tracks, and a gantry supported above the mould assembly by the pair of side supports, the gantry extending transverse to the longitudinal direction;
moving the transport assembly relative to the mould assembly in the longitudinal direction;
depositing material in the mould by means of the transport assembly; and moving the side supports relative to one another in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction in accordance with the varying distance between the tracks as the transport assembly moves in the longitudinal direction.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising providing at least one of the tracks on a walkway alongside the mould assembly.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising providing at least one of the tracks on a mould flange, which at least partially surrounds the mould surface.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of any of claim 14, further comprising varying the height of at least one of the side supports in accordance with a varying height differential between the first and second tracks and thereby maintaining the gantry in a substantially horizontal orientation as the transport assembly moves in the longitudinal direction.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The production system of claim 1 wherein the mould assembly comprises a mould for a wind turbine blade.